When casting a spell with Repeat, does the player need to declare the Repeat after checking if the opponent uses Defy?

Ruling: No. You must declare and pay for Repeat as part of playing the spell onto the Chain, before passing priority. You cannot wait to see if the opponent uses Defy.

Sequence:

• Declare the spell and whether you are paying the Repeat cost
• Choose targets, modes, and other relevant spell details
• Pass priority (opponent can now respond with Defy or other responses)

Nuances:

• Repeat does not create a reflexive trigger; it is an additional cost paid when casting
• A spell with Repeat paid is still one single spell on the Chain
• If Defy is used on a spell with Repeat, it cancels the entire spell (both instances)
• Defy checks the base cost of the spell, so Repeat does not affect whether a spell can be Defied